| chapter 13: the last words |

DAWN

The room went totally silent, as if the world had been frozen. Everyone stared at Minho. I was expecting him to say that he had been joking any minute, but it never came.

Finally it was Gally who broke the silence. 'That's ridiculous!' He faced Newt and pointed back at Minho, who was sitting again. 'He should be kicked off the Council for saying something so stupid.'

Everyone started talking again, some agreed with Minho others were just shaking their head.

I was completely dumbfounded. All I did was staring at Minho, trying to get inside the boy's mind and figure out what made him say those words but no sane reason came to me.

Finally Newt put his notepad down and stepped out from the semicircle, screaming at people to shut up.

It took him a while, but finally everyone had calmed. I sighed and shook my head. This was an awful day and the fact that I had nothing to say about it made it even more frustrading.

'Shuck it,' Newt said, 'I've never seen so many shanks acting like teat-suckin' babies. We may not look it, but around these parts we're adults. Act like it, or we'll disband this bloody Council and start from the scratch. Are we clear?' He asked, looking around the circle.

Everyone nodded, even Gally.

'Good that.' Newt walked back to his chair and sat down, putting the pad on his lap. Then he looked at Minho. 'That's some pretty serious klunk, brother. Sorry but you need to talk it up to move it forward.'

I blinked and stared at Minho. He looked exhausted, but started defending his porposal anyway.

'It's sure easy for you shanks to sit here and talk about something you're stupid on. I'm the only Runner in this group, and the only other here who's ever been out in the Maze is Newt.'

Gally interjected. 'Not if you count the time I-' 'I don't!' Minho shouted, making me jump in my seat.

'And believe me, you or nobody else has the slightest clue what it's like to be out there. The only reason you were stung is because you broke the same rule you're blaming Thomas and Dawn for. That's called hypocrisy, you shuck-faced piece of-'

'Enough,' Newt interrupted. 'Defend your proposal and be done with it.'

The tesion was almost visible now and I felt curious. Newt had been in the Maze? It must have something to do with his limp...Had he been he a Runner? Did he get that limp from falling or something? And what did Gally do in the Maze? Who had he saved if he had done the same thing as Thomas and me?

'Anyway, listen to me,' Minho continued as he took his seat. 'I've never seen anything like it. They didn't panic, they didn't whine and cry, never seemed scared. Dude, they'd been here for just a few days. Think about what we were all like in the beginning. Huddling in corners, disoriented, crying every hour, not trusting anyone, refusing to do anything. We were all like that, for weeks or months, till we had to choice to shuck it and live.'

Minho stood back up and suddenly I was terrified of what he would say next. I wasn't a hero, I went in there with the unintentional intention of killing myself.

'Just a few days after this guy shows up, two girls arrive who have kicked more balls than any of us. One of them steps into the Maze to save two shanks she hardly knows. All this klunk about them breaking a rule is beyond stupid. They didn't get the rules yet. Plenty of people had told them what it's like in the Maze, especially at night. And they still stepped out there, just as the Door was closing, only caring for that two people who needed help.'

He took a deep breath and I noticed that my hands were trembling.

'But that was just the beginning. After that, they saw me give up on Alby, leave him for death. And I was the veteran-the one with all the experience and knowledge. So when Thomas and Dawn saw me give up, they shouldn't have questioned it. But they did. Think about the willpower and strength it took them to push Alby up that wall, inch by inch. It's psycho. It's freaking crazy. But that wasn't it. Then came the Grievers. I told them we had to split up and I started the practiced evasive maneuvers, running in the patterns. Thomas and Dawn, when they should've been wettin' their pants, took control, defied all the laws of physics and gravity to get Alby up onto that wall, diverted the Grievers away from them, beat one off, found-'

'We get the point,' Gally snapped, and I was almost glad he did so. It felt uncomfortable to sit here while Minho was on the edge of kissing our feet. 'Dawn and Tommy here are lucky shanks.'

Minho rounded on him. 'No, you worthless shuck, you don't get it! I've been here two years, and I've never seen anything like it. For you to say anything...' Minho paused, rubbing his eyes in frustration.

My hands were fists on my lap, trembling like crazy. I appreciated what Minho said but I had no idea if I actually deserved any of it.

'Gally,' Minho said in a calmer voice. 'You're nothing but a sissy who has never, not once, asked to be a Runner or tried out for it. You don't have the right to talk about things you don't understand. So shut your mouth.'

Gally stood up again, fuming. 'Say one more thing like that and I'll break your neck, right here in front of everybody.' Spit flew from his mouth as he spoke.

Minho laughed, then raised the palm of his hand and shoved Gally in the face. The boy crashed down into his chair, tripping it over backward, cracking it into two pieces.

Gally sprawled across the floor, then scrambled to stand up, struggling to get his hands and feet under him.
Minho walked closer to Gally and put his foot on Gally's back. Driving his body flat to the ground.

'I swear, Gally,' Minho sneered. 'Don't ever threaten me again. Don't ever speak to me again. Ever. If you do, I'll break your shuck neck, right after I am done with your arms and legs.'

Before I could even blink, Newt and Winston were on their feet grabbing Minho and dragged him away from Gally.

My heart was beating in my throat as I watched the struggle.

Gally jumped up and stared angry at Minho. His face a mask of rage. But he didn't make any movement. He just stood there, breathing heavily.

Suddenly he reminded me of Ben, with his face drawn in such anger, but his eyes so hopeless. There was something going on with this boy. The way he acted made him look unnatural. Why did nobody noticed that?

Finally Gally backed away, half stumbling toward the exit behind him. His eyes darted around the room, lit with a burning hatred. He backed toward the door, reached behind him to grab the handle.
'Things are different now,' he said, sending chills down my spine. 'You shouldn't have done that Minho. You should not have done that.'
There was a maniacal look in his eyes as he turned his gaze to Newt.

Suddenly I wanted to jump up and protect Newt from that deathly glare. But as soon as that thought came it vanished away in the back of my mind.

'I know you hate me,' Gally rambled on against Newt. 'That you've always hated me. You should be Banished for your embarrassing inability to lead this group. You're shameful, and any one of you who stays here is no better. Things are going to change. This, I promise!' Gally yanked the door open and stepped out into the hall, but before anyone could react, he popped his head back into the room.

'And you two...' he said staring right at me and Thomas.

I swallowed nervously, his hateful look was burning my heart.

'The Greenbeans who think they're friggin' Gods. Don't forget I've seen you guys before-I've been through the changing. What these guys decide doesn't mean jack.' He paused and looked at each person in the room personally. Like he was trying to send them a message with his thoughts. I was trembling and scared for his last words but I couldn't stop them. 'Whatever you guys came here for-I swear on my life I'm gonna stop it. Kill you if I have to.'

Then he turned around and left the room, slamming the door behind him.

I breathed out slowly and tried to stop my hands from trembling, but it didn't work. Somehow Gally's words had frightened me more than I'd like to admit. Maybe because I knew he wasn't wrong, I had worked for the people who put us here. I tried to keep breathing, but the room was closing in on me and suddenly all I wanted to do was run away from here, until my lungs were burning and my legs were numb. I had to leave this place but I couldn't. And I hated it.

'He's finally whacked for good,' Minho said. Newt and Winston had let him go and they sat back in their chairs again.

'Well you're not the bloody saint in this room,' Newt said. 'What were you thinking? That was a little overboard, don't ya think?'

Minho rolled his eyes and pulled his head back, as if he were baffled by Newt's question. 'Don't give me that garbage. Every one of you loved seeing that slinthead get his dues, and you know it. It's about time someone stood up to his klunk.'

'He's on the Council for a reason,' Newt said.

'Dude he threatened to break my neck and kill Thomas and gorgeous over there! The guy is mentally whacked, and you better send someone right now to throw him in the Slammer. He's dangerous.'

I bit my lip to stop myself from screaming things. I hated this order to stay quiet.

'Maybe he had a good point,' Winston said, almost too quietly.

'What?' Minho asked.

But I thought that Winston was right. Gally had no reason to trust us. He even said that he saw us in the Changing.

'Well...he has been through the Changing, Griever stung him in the middle of the day just outside the West Door. That means he has memories, and he said the Greenies look familiar. Why would he make that up?'

Winston was right, and my memories confirmed it. But I couldn't say it. Any chance I had left to fit in and find a way out would be gone. No one would trust me, or Lisa and Alby would probably Banish us.

'Winston did you see what just happened?' Frypan said, breaking me out of my thoughts. 'Gally's psycho. You can't put too much stock in his rambling nonsense. What, you think Thomas and Dawn here are Grievers in disguise?'

My stomach was twisting, my heart was racing. I wanted to say something so badly.

'Can I say something now?' Thomas suddenly asked. Frustration sounded through his voice. He seemed to think the same thing as me. 'I'm sick of you guys talking about me like I'm not here,' he finished.

Newt glanced up at him and nodded. 'Go ahead. This bloody meetin' can't be much more screwed up.'

I coughed. 'Can I say something as well then?'

Newt locked eyes with me and his gaze made a shiver crawl down my spine. 'Sure. After our shank Thomas is finished,' he finally said.

I nodded and Thomas started talking.
'I don't know why Gally hates me. I don't care. He seems psychotic to me. As for who I really am, you all know just as much as I do. But if I remember correctly, we're here because of what I did out in the Maze, not because some idiot thinks I'm evil.'

Newt nodded. 'Good that. Now Dawn, go ahead.'

I took a deep breath and forced myself to stop trembling. 'Look, I don't know much about myself. Actually no one here does, and because of that no one has any reason to trust us. And that's why I understand that Gally questions our motivations. I think everyone is allowed to question that. Why he hates us for it, is something I don't understand. We should ask him if we're interested.'

I took a shaky breath before I continued. 'Anyway, I think it's our actions that show who we really are. So if you ever question if we really are spies for the bad guys or something, just look at what you know about us, and judge us on that. As for now. Let's go on with the thing about us entering the Maze. Because that is what this klunk is suppose to be about.'

My eyes locked again with Newt, and I tried to tell him with without words that he could trust me. He could tell me anything. If he would, I would too.

'Good that,' he finally said and I looked away.

'We can't vote without all the members here,' Winston said. 'Unless they're really sick, like Alby.'

'For the love, Winston,' Newt replied. 'I'd say Gally's a wee bit ill today, too, so we continue without him. Thomas and Dawn defend yourselves and then we'll take the vote on what we should do with you.'

Thomas started. 'I didn't do anything wrong. All I know is I saw two people struggling to get inside these walls and they couldn't make it. To ignore that because of some stupid rule seemed selfish, cowardly, and...well, stupid. If you want to throw me in jail for trying to save someone's life, then go ahead. Next time I promise I'll point at them and laugh, then, go eat some of Frypan's dinner.'

Again Newt nodded before he turned his gaze to me.

I shrugged. 'Thomas here has said everything. And I bet Frypan's food tastes even better when you know someone you could have saved can never eat it again.'

Thomas sended me a little smirk.

'Here's my recommendation,' Newt said. 'You shanks broke our Number One Rule, so you will get a day in the Slammer. That's your punishment. I also recommend we select Thomas and Dawn as Runners, effective the second this meeting's over. You've proven more in one night than most shanks do in one month. But about that Keeper thing, Gally was right on that count, it's a stupid idea.'

Minho just shrugged. 'Good that.'

Newt glanced around the room. 'Okay, we had several recommendations, so let's give it a go round-'

'Oh come on.' Frypan cut him off. 'Just vote. I vote for yours.'

'Me too,' Minho said.

Relief washed over me as everyone said yes. All except for Winston.

Newt looked at him. 'We don't need your vote but tell us what's goin' on in that bloody brain of yours.'

Winston glared at us then back at Newt. 'It's fine with me, but we shouldn't totally ignore what Gally said. Something about it, I don't think he made it up. And it's true that ever since these guys showed up, things started to get weird.'

'Fair enough,' Newt said. 'Everyone put some thought into it, maybe when we get right nice and bored we can have another Gathering to talk about it. Good that?'

Winston nodded.

'What about our punishment?' I asked.

'Tomorrow,' Newt said. 'The wake-up untill sunset.'

One day, that couldn't be so bad.